Briefs
Terror in the Sulu Archipelago: A Profile of Filipino Abu Sayyaf Leader Yassir Igasan
The Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) of the southern Philippines has always found itself perched on a fine line between Islamic jihad and organized crime. [1] Active since the early 1990s, some factions of the group are devoted solely to kidnapping-for-ransom, though some leaders have tried... MORE
The Fall of Islamic State’s Female Militants: A Case Study
As an increasing number of Islamic State (IS) female militants have been captured and sentenced to death after the collapse of the so-called “caliphate,” gender roles within the group have been deconstructed once more. This process marks the fall of female militancy within the terrorist... MORE
Leading Pakistan’s Nascent Form of Extremism: The Rise of Khadim Hussain Rizvi
Barelvi sect extremism has recently emerged as a new phenomenon in extremism in Pakistan. It is unique in that Pakistanis are accustomed to various Deobandi and Salafist militant groups carrying out violence in the Sunni-majority country but not to Barelvi sect adherents. For their part,... MORE
Heading al-Qaeda’s Syrian Resurgence: An Updated Profile of Abu Humam al-Shami
On February 27, 2018, a new jihadist entity calling itself Hurras al-Din (Guardians of the Religion) released a statement through social media channels announcing its establishment in Syria (al-Modon, March 2). In the statement, Hurras al-Din urged fellow Muslims to assist the jihadists fighting against... MORE
The Next Doku Umarov? The Rise of Chechen Commander Abdul Hakim al-Shishani
In summer 2017, leaders of the three main factions of the Syrian opposition with fighters from the Caucasus, Muslim al-Shishani, Abdul Hakim al-Shishani and Salahuddin al-Shishani, released a joint video message, where they reaffirmed neutrality in the confrontation between the Syrian rebel groups Akhrar al-Sham... MORE
A Holy Warrior Reborn: Maulana Fazlur Rehman Khalil Enters Pakistan’s Mainstream
Once an infamous militant leader who unleashed a reign of terror in India’s Jammu and Kashmir in the early 1990s, Maulana Fazlur Rehman Khalil looks poised for an image makeover. Recently, Khalil has launched a political front in Pakistan, and he has worked in assisting... MORE
Overcoming Internal Struggle in Syria: Can Hassan Soufan Revive Ahrar al-Sham?
Ahrar al-Sham (Ahrar) is one of the largest rebel groups in Syria. In December 2016, like other groups, it suffered a major blow at the hands of the forces of the al-Assad regime, resulting in the loss of the city of Aleppo. The defeat in... MORE
Pakistan’s Most Wanted: LeJ Commander Mati ur Rehman Cooperates to Kill
Few militants have remained on as many most-wanted lists in Pakistan, and abroad, as Mati ur Rehman. Rehman is indeed the most wanted terrorist in Pakistan (Pakistan Today, March 2, 2013). His role in masterminding and perpetrating terrorist attacks against former Pakistani President General Pervez... MORE
Overseeing al-Shabaab’s Kenyan Resurgence: The Ascendance of Jaysh al-Ayman Commander Abdifatah Abubakar Abdi
Al-Shabaab attacks are on the rise in Kenya. From concerns about threats to the recent Kenyan elections to stepped-up attacks in Kenya’s coastal Lamu county, this uptick in activity has authorities across the region concerned (see Terrorism Monitor, June 16, 2017; see Terrorism Monitor, February... MORE
Religious Extremist or Force for Moderation? A Profile of Imprisoned Saudi Shaykh Salman bin Fahd al-Ouda
One of Saudi Arabia’s leading Salafist religious scholars, Shaykh Salman bin Fahd al-Ouda, is currently hospitalized under guard after spending nearly five months in isolation without charges in a Saudi prison. [1] Once a strong opponent of the American military presence in the Arabian Peninsula... MORE